politics and weight loss

I asbolutely agree, I don't go to certain stores for the same reason. I didn't know curves was one of those places but I'm glad I didn't join it, those people have too much money already and are nuts, ha.

I asbolutely agree, I don't go to certain stores for the same reason. I didn't know curves was one of those places but I'm glad I didn't join it, those people have too much money already and are nuts, ha.

You know, I knew someone a few years ago who went to Curves because she thought the program was really good. She disagreed with 10% of her fee being given to right-wing political causes, and so she chose to donate that same amount, on a yearly basis, to a liberal cause that she agreed with -- she felt she was sort of balancing things out and felt it enabled her to work out at Curves without a guilty conscience.

I was a member of Curves for two years. What finally drove me away was not the political beliefs/donations the owners of the company chose to make. It was the horrible contemporary Christian worship songs they'd play while I was trying to work out! I'm even Christian (kind of, sort of, not entirely, but partially), and it wasn't the message in the songs that bugged me, but the style of music. It made me really start to dread my 30 minutes at Curves.

So I quit going to Curves, gained a bunch of weight, and here I am... :)

"We live our lives as we live our days." -- Annie Dillard

"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe. " -- Frank Zappa

Target's policy reflects a law passed in MN which states that pharmacies HAVE to allow people the option of not dispensing things that conflict with their religeous beliefs. Target has that policy because they legally have to.

Goalsies: 160 - new handbag 150 - new tattoo, botanical print. 140 - new pants. Nice ones not just cheapies from Target. 130 - Two or three new outfits including shoes. Mmmm...shoes...

LOVANIEZ, while I appreciate your input, and agree that everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinions and that it is a good thing. However, I think it's somewhat inappropriate to say it's weak to avoid supporting a company who supports ventures you're opposed to. I work hard for my money, and I am responsible for where it goes, so I make informed purchases. To me, that is responsibility and that is literally me putting my money where my mouth is.

Salvation Army is opposed to gay marriage: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn%5Cwww_usn.nsf/vw-search/85256DDC007274DF80256B7D0054B5BA?opendocument

Target has a policy that allows their pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception if it's against their religious beliefs (Though Plan B is NOT an abortion): http://www.saveroe.com/node/1714

I live in Minneapolis, land of Target corporate headquarters. They certainly are not a great compnay, but they are definately a lesser evil. It's true, they don't allow the salvation army to collect in the winter, but they don't allow ANY fund-raising solicitations on their premises. Despite this, they're actually a pretty philanthropic organization, donating tons of money to schools, etc... They also offer domestic partner benefits, and other fairly progressive benefits to their employees.

As for Curves, I had no idea that they support anti-choice organizations. While I do feel that everyone has a right to their opinion, I don't want my money going to fund things I disagree with. It's not a matter of the gentleman in question doing what he wants with his own money; for me it's a matter of his money coming from my use of his product/service.

Goalsies: 160 - new handbag 150 - new tattoo, botanical print. 140 - new pants. Nice ones not just cheapies from Target. 130 - Two or three new outfits including shoes. Mmmm...shoes...

Lovaniez - what you said about Target was really bothering me, b/c I spend money there every month. My dad's a Vietnam Vet, and one of the things I most looked forward to on a weekly basis when I was a kid was going to the grocery with my mom and giving some of my allowance to a disabled vet selling these U.S. flag pins and talking to him.

Anyway, I found that most of this stuff about Target is untrue (except the part where I wondered if it wasn't the Salvation Army people were talking about):

My family is all pretty - um - aligned with the religious right, to a certain extent, so anytime they email me anything that remotely reeks of bias, I check on Snopes. I sure ruffled some feathers when I showed them all how they were full of ---- when they were saying Hillary Clinton refused to meet with mothers of killed solidiers.

thx for the info. i'm so glad you guys discuss this stuff. sometimes it seems like considering all the ethical aspects ( and budgetary ones:)) of my food and other purchases barely leaves me time and energy to consider the health ones.

at least at the end of the day when we've made all the right choices (or even a few) we can feel proud that we tried

Yup, Curves dood has a right to free speech and can donate to whatever causes he believes in - and yes, knowing that, and how strongly I feel in the opposite direction, I would never join there knowing now what I have learned.

Target, I hadn't heard that about Vets, though I had heard something similar about the Salvation Army collecting donations. In fact...are you sure it was vets and not the Salvation Army? Obv. they are quite different, but...I could see how the Army thing might confuse as the story has been passed around.

As for how people spend their money and their votes, I do find very important. I feel if people were more thoughtful with their dollars, then companies would be more thoughtful about their choices. Right now it seems everybody does what is easy and companies say if we don't someone else will.

back to curves. I just read an interesting article on its founder and liked the story. I knew nothing about his politics. I liked his company plan. Small, inexpensive local owned female only gyms. Now is it what the company does or its owner that you don't like. For me both would matter. Some other places like wally world (love that nickname) and target it is their corpate plans that bug me. Wal-mart is very evil and target is bad. i shop at target, but won't even accept gifts from wally world. It is tough to live without both of them.

My two cents. (I drive a biodiesel car, reuse not recyle, and shop organic when possible, but still not doing enough)

Damn, I did type America. lol, its just because I live here, no offense.

But, I wouldnt not go to a club just because a belief they support, because they are entitled to their own opinion. Just like I wouldnt want people to judge me based on my political beliefs. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That doesnt mean that they are terrible people and shouldnt be assosiated with! unless of course that person believes the company will try and force their belief on them and in that case, they are must be weak.

Another example is Target. I think Target is a great place to get some things for less, but they are a French company, and when the USA war veterns asked to collect charity in front of the store the corporation told them that that went against their beliefs and organizatiosn that they support. Of course now there are Americans out there that wont shop there because the "French" not target denied our war veterns! Target supposenly also supports gay marriage. Doesnt mean I will stop shopping there. I support the troops and the veterns and shopping at Target doesnt mean other wise.

COWPUNKMOM - I hope I didn't come off too harshly about that, and I guess I took for granted that you were from the US. Yes, for as much as people here b**ch and moan about TV, movies, music, and video games being too sexual, we are a very repressed country. I was taught abstinence-only sex ed in catholic schools (which I attened all but my last 2 years of high school), and it was a complete joke - diagrams, cross sections, but no real talk about anything other than NO TOUCHING! No wonder so many people I went to high school with were pregnant at 15! My brother is 17, and he said a girl in a grade or two below him is on her 2nd pregnancy. SHEESH!

I am so glad to hear everyone's opinions. I definitely believe that part of being pro-choice means accepting and supporting the opinions of those who are pro-life. The only time I take issue with that view is when someone expects me to adopt their views. I would never expect anyone who is opposed to abortion to get one, and I don't think they should expect me or other women to carry a child.

"I guess I would take such issue with people being anti-choice, if they weren't infesting our state and national legislators and getting ridiculous bills passed meant to intimidate and bully women,"

Wow, I wasn't thinking about this issue from an American point of view! Things must be a lot more difficult there. I don't think this bullying is happening to such an extent here, and that may colour my opinion, eh? I guess if I was being pushed around, my stance would become a lot more important to me. Thanks for that, Babypop.

Yup. I'm Catholic and pro-choice. Kind of a slippery slope, I don't feel like I'm ever allowed to discuss my opinions unless it's with people my own age. I had a radical hysterectomy at 26, and many of the Web site support groups, women(most of which were older than me) would get to talking about abortion and how people like "us" can't have kids, so these girls/women having abortions should carry their fetus 9 months and give them to "us." I always thought that was really f---ed up.

I guess I would take such issue with people being anti-choice, if they weren't infesting our state and national legislators and getting ridiculous bills passed meant to intimidate and bully women, who are too stupid and frail to make decisions about their own bodies. Oh, and if they'd actually be down with educating children from a very young age and providing them with contraception.

I share what I'm about to in the spirit of discussion (I LOVE discussion!!) and in no way am attempting to force my opinions on anyone.

I am a follower of Jesus, but I find what I believe often doesn't line up with what I'm told most Christians believe. It seems to me that God Himself is pro-choice, in that He never forces Himself on anyone, but would rather people came to him as one comes to a lover, freely and without compulsion. So the abortion issue is a strange one for me. I think women should be able to choose abortion if they truly want it. HOWEVER, I truly think it's wrong, not because I want to dominate women and take away their choice, but because women are amazing, and the life they are choosing about will affect them forever, whether they choose to end it or allow it to come to fruition. I wish that every woman who had that difficult decision to make was fully aware of the cost of both choices--to bear the child will wreak havoc on her body and emotions, she'll have to decide whether to keep it (lifetime of sacrifice) or put it up for adoption (another lifetime of different emotions)--and to abort the child will also have a deep emotional toll. There are costs on all sides. That never seems to get discussed because everybody draws a line in the sand and says "WE CAN" or "YOU MUSN'T". It's so sad.

So will I go to Curves? Probably. I have issues that really bug me, and I do stuff about it. I don't shop at Wal-Mart, I would rather die than eat at McDonald's, I buy fair-trade coffee whenever I can, I support my friend that plants flowers on Skid-Row so the prostitutes have something pretty to look at...but if I truly am pro-choice, I guess I can choose to work out where I want to, right? And I can allow those that choose differently to stand by their own decisions.

You see, if you start throwing around the term "free choice", you have to allow people the freedom to choose, even if you disagree with their decisions. Bit of a catch-22, eh? LOL!!!

I don't go to curves either, but I was also unaware of their political views. Thank-you for educating me in this area, cause it is very important to me. I do not think you were wrong to share your opinions and I will definitely research this topic and be sharing mine as well. I will definitely be making others in my town aware. Thanks again.

Edited by: MOLTING at: 3/11/2007 (11:10)

Risk! Risk anything!...Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.

I don't go to Curves, but I go to the YMCA, and I feel guilty about it b/c I'm not Xtian. That said, the Y is very active in the community and all kinds of people go there---all races, all sizes, all ages, etc.,---and I like that.

Back to the original post---I think it's smart to back your beliefs with your buying power. I am also a hyprocrite, because I shop at Wally World. All the local grocery stores have closed in our area, and it's the closest thing to our house w/ some organic stuff. :-/ We need to move.

bb

Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath. -Michael Caine

I don't go to Curves - I was going to join @ a year and a half ago (when I decided to start being more proactive about my health). For what it was, I thought it was pretty expensive. I pay the same price for the Y, which offers swimming, circuit training (just like curves), regular cardio equipment, nautalis, classes, etc.

I had no idea that this co. was anti-choice. A good friend of mine joined and loves it, I think she cancelled her membership as her pregnancy progressed. I'll be sure to let her know when she's ready to start going to a gym again - I am sure she'd not want to support them either.

I don't go to Curves but there is one in my area...I wasn't aware of the political views of the owners. Personally, I do take that kind of thing in to consideration when making purchases or donating money somewhere...I don't think that you made a mistake....if you feel strongly about something you should feel good about your choice in my opinion.

I figured this would be a good question to pose to you since punk and politics go hand-in-hand.

On another sparkteam's messageboard, another member said that she thinks that it would be ridiculous for her to not go to Curves for political reasons in response to my statement that I choose not to support them due to the owner supporting anti-abortion and abstinence-only sex education. I find it irresponsible to not be conscious of where your money is going, and I find it wrong that Curves purports itself as being very pro-woman while supporting organizations that strive to limit reproductive rights. What are your opinions on this topic? If you go to Curves, were you aware of its political leanings? If so, do you support those politics or not care? If you weren't aware and go to Curves, does this change how you feel about their program?

SparkPeople, SparkCoach, SparkPages, SparkPoints, SparkDiet, SparkAmerica, SparkRecipes, DailySpark, and other marks are trademarks of SparkPeople, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this website can be used without the permission of SparkPeople or its authorized affiliates.
SPARKPEOPLE is a registered trademark of SparkPeople, Inc. in the United States, European Union, Canada, and Australia. All rights reserved.

NOTE: Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy last updated on October 25, 2013